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Dodgers 4, Padres 1

Because of the weird start time, the fast-approaching deadline and the fact I have two stories to bang out, I’m going to keep this entry short. But the moral of today’s game — that is, if one game on a 162-game schedule is any indication — is that this much-maligned Dodgers bullpen might just be up to the task after all. They combined for 3 1/3 shutout innings, and it wasn’t all a bunch of easy outs, especially the first one. Cory Wade relieved Hiroki Kuroda to face Kevin Kouzmanoff with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth and eventually got him to ground back to the mound, preserving a 3-1 lead. Matt Kemp, who had made a spectacular catch with nobody on base earlier in that inning, a catch that turned out to be huge, then homered off Jake Peavy in the seventh to make it 4-1, completing a dramatic momentum turn that carried the Dodgers to victory. Wade gave up a leadoff double to Chase Headley in the seventh, then got three quick outs to strand Headley on third. Hong-Chih Kuo pitched around a couple of walks and a wild pitch in the eighth, and Jonathan Broxton looked like the second coming of Eric Gagne or Mariano Rivera or K-Rod or whoever in the ninth, blowing away three hitters in a row to nail it down. James Loney went 3 for 4 with a two-out, two-run single in the first inning. Rafael Furcal went 2 for 5. Dodgers are 1-0 for the second year in a row. Randy Wolf against Chris Young tomorrow night.

Dodger Killer Jake Peavy had not lost to LA since September 2003, a stretch of 17 starts. This could be a sign of a very long season in San Diego.

GScott

Ya, because of all the things they’ve had happen to them the last year and a half, these last 4ish hours were the dead giveaway that the Padres would stink this year.

Bill Becher

It was cool to see some things happen as predicted (hoped for?), Furcal and Hudson getting onbase to start the first inning, agressive baserunning cashed in and Kemp displaying his athleticism.. And Broxton rewarded management’s faith in his ability to take over as closer. Who needs hits from Manny??

Tripon

This Dodgers team is going to pick up a lot of wins from the Giants, Padres, and Rockies this year. Wins that they weren’t able to last year.

karmabad

As you know 3 HUGE things happened in yesterday’s game:

1. The boys beat Peavy, who typically owns them
2. The bullpen held up and Kuroda threw well
3. They did it pretty much without having to rely on Manny

Yes, it’s the Padres. However, they beat one of the games best. Great game.

Kemp looked bad striking out on a low and outside breaking ball.
Kemp looked good hitting a home run on a Peavy mistake right down the middle, waist high. “Tough righty” – easy pitch.
Kemp made a great diving catch.
Kemp will be fun to watch this year.

ToyCannon

I like the Dodgers pen: Wade, Kuo, Mota, Ohman, Troncoso, Broxton (throwing 100mph) will be solid–the new kid Bilasario is an unknown. I worry more about the starting pitching. The line-up top to bottom is the best in the league. Go LA!

Marcel

The starting pitching is great.

Kuroda last night was phase one in proving all of the doubters wrong.

BruinFBBB

Really?

The starters (especially Kershaw and McDonald) need to prove that they can get deep into games. Pitch to contact and keep the pitch-counts down…

I have a lot of confidence in the starting pitching (provided they can stay healthy) but the problem that nobody wants to acknowledges is what happens if they don’t get the pen some rest every now and again?

The bullpen looks great, but what happens when their arms fall off by July?

Great 5.2 for Kuroda last night. Crossing my fingers for 6.2 next time…

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